Dispensing unit



w. P. WEIRICH ET AL 3,425,683

Feb. 4, "1969 DISPENSING UNIT Sheet of 5 Filed July 1, 1966 I \WX PIC-MLINVENTORs WILLIAM F. WEIRIGH BY HENRY WELIRICH Feb. 4, 1969 w. F.WEIRICH ET AL 5,425,683

DISPENSING UNIT Filed July 1, 1965 --Sheet 2 of 3 I l I l I. n l r l I 1INVENTORS'. WILLIAM F. WEIRIGH HENRY WEIRJCH DISPENSING UNIT Filed July1, 1966 Sheet 2 01 5 FIGS.

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mvzmon's; WILLIAM F. WEIRICH- HENRY WEIRICH WW AT TYS.

United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispeningunit for slot insulation in roll form comprising a container formed by apair of internesting sleeves disposed at right angles to one another.Each sleeve has a width greater than the diameter of the roll and alength less than the diameter of the roll so that the container is openat all four corners. Each sleeve is formed by two separate side panelshaving flaps at the opposite side edges. The flaps of the two panels areinterconnected to space the side panels apart a selected distance equalto the width of the roll, the interconnection of the flaps providing adouble wall thickness about the four side edges at the outer peripheryof the container. A folding horn is adapted to be clipped onto thecontainer along the double wall thickness.

The present invention is an improvement in dispensing units and hasparticular application to dispensing units for slot insulation.

Slot insulation is a special paper tape commonly employed as slot linersand separators in the winding slots of electrical machinery such aselectric motors to insulate the electric wire windings of the motors.This insulation is supplied in large rolls containing enough materialfor several machine windings and it is the usual practice for windingshows and like places to keep a supply of different widths of theinsulation on hand to fit the various size electrical machines they arerequired to Wind. In certain uses, as for separators, the tape is scoredand must be folded before it is installed in the machines, and in othercases,"for slot liners, the tape is cuffed and has no score lines forfolding. In these shops suitable lengths of the insulation arefrequently drawn from the rolls as the winding work progresses.

A primary problem exists in keeping the rolls clean and readilyaccessible for use. Due to the nature of their work, the workers handsare greasy and dirty and the rolls, when handled in the shops near theirintended location of use, accumulate the grease and dirt on theirexposed surfaces. This accumulation substantially decreases the tapesinsulating qualities, renders it incompatible to varnish, and makes itpractically useless for winding purposes. The tape is especially hard tokeep clean because of its resiliency which tends to force the roll tounwind itself exposing its inner portions. Metal chips may lodge in theloosened rolls, further detracting from the insulating propertiesthereof.

Some manufacturers of the rolls have wrapped them in paper covers tokeep them tightly wound and free from exposure. This precaution has notcompletely solved the problem, because the workers in the shops havefound it inconvenient to open and rewrap the rolls each time a length oftape is withdrawn.

Other manufacturers have attempted to protect the rolls by supplyingthem permanently encased in disposable dispensers similar to that shownin Patent No. 2,595,375. These dispensers have not been entirelysatisfactory. Among the deficiencies is the lack of a suitable provisionto prevent the short ends of the narrow separator tapes, cut off closeto the dispenser, from being pulled inside the dispenser by the tapesresilient force. In order to "ice retrieve the end, the user must eithertear the dispenser open or must fish the end out of the dispenser byinserting the fingers through the small holes provided. Such procedureis time consuming and a nuisance.

Another disadvantage of the prior dispenser is the lack of adequatemeans to rewind uncut portions of tape back on the roll. When too muchtape has been withdrawn, the roll cannot easily be manipulated withinthe dispenser to take up the tape.

In addition to the above disadvantages, the dispensers made inaccordance with the above-mentioned patent have been expensive tomanufacture. Substantial time and labor is required to staple the eightpairs of flaps which join the two cardboard blanks together.

A problem also exists when the slot insulation must be folded. Beforethe flap tape from the rolls can be inserted into the slots ofelectrical machinery. two longitudinal folds must be carefully madealong score lines running the length of the tape to form a U-shape tocover the bottom and sides of the slot. Heretofore, some users of thetape have made these folds by hand. This procedure has takenconsiderable time and labor and the folds were not always accuratelymade.

Other users have resorted to relatively expensive folding machines ordies to accurately fold the tape. These devices were cumbersome for theyhad to be adjusted each time a different width tape was run through themand in many cases, when they were not carefully adjusted, they wouldproduce inaccurate folds.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a noveldispensing unit to facilitate the easy handling and storage of slotinsulation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improveddispensing unit which will keep the surface of the insulation tape freefrom dust, dirt, or other foreign material.

A further object is to provide a new dispensing unit which is highlyeconomical to manufacture and assemble, yet which is fully effective inoperation and use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensingunit which will accurately and simply fold the tape for insertion intothe winding slot.

More specifically, the present invention provides a dispenser whichstores the tape in roll form to maintain it free from dust, dirt, andother foreign material, but which provides access to the stored tape formanipulation of the roll during the dispensing operation, and for narrowtape for use as separators, includes a folding horn for automaticallyfolding the tape as it is dispensed.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing unit embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse fragmentary section taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing unit shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another dispensing unitembodying the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a folding horn;

FIG. 7 is a reduced plan view showing the structure as shown in FIG. 6mounted on the dispenser for operation; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view with portions broken away of thestructure as shown in FIG. 7.

In accordance with the present invention, the illustrated dispensingunits comprise a container 11 loosely enclosing a roll 12 of slotinsulation tape 13 and means to control the tape 13 as it is withdrawnfrom the unit as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roll 12 is designed to be unwound fromthe outside. It is formed about an open core and has a given inner andouter diameter.

The container 11 is constructed to allow access to the roll 12 so thatit may be easily counterrotated to rewind uncut tape 13 back onto theroll 12. In the present case the container 11 is formed of two elongatedsleeves 16 each having an axial length between the open ends smallerthan, and a transverse length between the closed ends larger than, theoutside diameter of the roll 12. The depth of the sleeve is slightlylarger than the width of the roll 12.

Each sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is preferably comprised ofdouble-faced corrugated board formed into two sidewalls 17 and twoendwalls 18. In the present instance, the sidewalls 17 are formedseparately from the endwalls 18 and include marginal flaps 19 extendingperpendicularly therefrom toward the opposite sidewall along oppositeends thereof. The endwalls 18 are secured to the flaps '19 in thepresent instance by fastening means such as glue. In the present casethe flaps 19 project inwardly toward'one another, so that the gluing ofthe endwalls 18 thereto provide a double wall thickness about the outerperiphery of the container.

Where a container 111is to hold a roll 112 of a narrow tape 113, forinstance the scored tape used for separators in electrical machinery, inlieu of the use of the separate endwalls, on each sleeve it ispreferable to overlap the flaps 119 to form an integral endwall 118 asshown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 and secure them to each other by afastening means, such as glue, to provide a double wall thickness aboutthe outer periphery of the container.

The two elongated sleeves of either embodiment, 16 or 116, are in turnglued or fastened together by other means substantially midway betweentheir ends in a nested crossed relationship to leave opening 20 or 120at each corner along the roll 12 or 112. These openings permit the tapeto be dispensed from the outer periphery of the roll through one of saidopenings, and are sufficiently large to allow the side of the roll to begrasped by the fingers for counterrotation within the container when itis desired to rewind the roll to retract the cut end into the container.

The containers are designed to enclose insulation tapes of varyingwidths. Where the separate endwalls 18 are used, the width of thecontainer 11 can be increased or decreased to tfit any size insulatingtape 13 by increasing or decreasing the width of the endwalls 18. Withnarrow tapes, where integral end walls 118 are used, it is preferred tochange the width of the overlapping flaps 119 similarly to maintain thedouble-wall thickness across substantially the entire width of the outerperiphery of the container.

Means is provided to support the unit while the tape is being withdrawn.In the present instance, the container 11 or 111 has a hole 21 or 121located in the central portion of each sidewall 17 or 117. This hole hasa diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the roll 12 or112 to prevent the inner portions of the roll from slipping out of thecontainer through the hole. The hole is large enough to allow a supportsuch as a pipe or similar item, to be passed through the container andthe open core 15 or 1 15 of the roll. In this manner one or more unitsmay be held in place together for storage and tape dispensing.

When using scored tapes, such as for separators in electrical machinery,which must be folded, means 124 may be provided to control the tape 113as it is withdrawn from the unit. For example, the control means 124serves to fold the tape 113 and to secure the free end to prevent itfrom being pulled back into the container 111 by the resilient force ofthe tape. To this end, a folding horn 124 shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, isfixed within the opening 120 through which the tape is dispensed.

In the present case, the folding horn 124 comprises a tape controlmember 125 having attached at one end thereof, in this case by rivets126, a suitable mounting means 127. In the present case, the tapecontrol member 125 comprises a base 128 having opposed upstanding sidemembers 129 which overlie the base at the terminal end 130 of the tapecontrol member 125 to thereby fold the marginal portions 131 of the tape113 upward along the side of the central portions 132. To this end, thebase 128 tapers in width from the mounting end 133 to the free terminalend 130 for example from the width corresponding to the width of 'theunfolded tape 113 to a width corresponding to the width of the centralportion 132. In this way, the side members 129 converge towards the freeterminal end 130, and as shown best in FIG. 6, terminate in overlyingrelation to the base 128. When the tape is withdrawn from the tapecontrol member 125, the acute angular relationship of the side members129 with respect to the base 128 creases the tape by folding themarginal portion 131 over the central portion 132 as indicated in FIGS.7 and 8. When it leaves the tape control member 125, the resiliency ofthe tape permits the marginal portion 131 to expand into an accuratelyfolded U-shaped suitable for insertion into the slots of the electricalmachinery.

At the other end, the mounting means 127 comprises a longitudinalextension 134 having a reversely turned leg 135 which cooperates to forma clip to mount the folding horn on the container 111. As shown in FIGS.7 and 8 the folding horn 124 is removably mounted on the container 111with the longitudinal extension 134 of the mounting means 127 passingbetween the end-wall 118 and the roll 112. In this Way, the mountingmeans positions the tape control member 125 with its base 128 outermostand adjacent to the opening 20 through which the tape 113 is dispensedfrom the roll 112. The leg 135 of the mounting clip is turned back overthe double wall thickness provided by the overlapping flaps 119 from theopposite opening 120, so as to firmly anchor the member in place againstdisplacement as the tape is dispensed. The outward end of the tape 113is passed from the roll 112, and through the folding horn 124, whichfrictionally engages the end of the tape 113 to prevent inadvertentretraction into the container 111.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that the dispensing unitfacilitates the easy handling and storage of slot insulation rolls byproviding a container which protects the roll and keeps it fromunwinding.

It can also be seen that the container is made of material such ascorrugated board which is low in cost and requires minimum labor toconstruct.

Additionally, the dispensing unit is adaptable for varied widths of slotinsulation.

The dispensing unit also allows the uncut portions of slot insulation tobe retracted onto the roll within the container for storage andprotection.

It can be seen that the dispensing unit may provide for the automaticfolding of the tape into the desired shape as it is dispensed forinsertion into the electrical machinery slots.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention tosuch disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto within the scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. A dispensing unit for a roll of slot insulation tape comprising, twoelongated sleeves secured to each other in nested crossed relationshipto form a container, each elongated sleeve having an axial lengthsubstantially smaller than the outside diameter of the roll and atransverse length slightly larger than the outside diameter of the roll,each sleeve crossing the other sleeve substantially midway between theends whereby an opening is provided at each of the four corners of saidcontainer so as to en able the tape to be dispensed from the outerperiphery of the roll through one of said openings, each elongatedsleeve being generally rectangular and formed of two opposed, similarsidewalls disposed in face-to-face relation, each sidewall comprising aseparate sheet of corrugated board having a width corresponding to theaxial length of said sleeve and including two marginal flaps alongopposite ends thereof extending perpendicular therefrom, and meansinterconnecting the flaps of said two sidewalls at each of said oppositeends to space said sidewalls at a selected depth slightly larger thanthe width of said roll, said interconnecting means of the two sleevesproviding a double Wall thickness about the four side edges at the outerperiphery of said container.

2. A dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein said marginal flapsproject inwardly of the sleeve toward one another and terminate withoutoverlapping, said interconnecting means comprising an endwalloverlapping said flaps and secured to the outer side by gluing toprovide said double wall thickness along said marginal flaps.

3. A dispensing unit according to claim 1 wherein said marginal flapsproject inwardly of the sleeve toward one another, overlapping eachother, said interconnecting means securing said flaps to each other toprovide said double wall thickness along said marginal flaps.

4. A dispensing unit according to claim 1 including 25 tape controlmeans consisting of a folding horn mounted on said double wall thicknessadjacent one corner opening at the end of one side edge, said horn beingadapted both to fold the tape and to frictionally engage the same toprevent said inadvertent retraction thereof.

5. A dispensing unit according to claim 4 wherein said folding horncomprises a base having side members at one end for folding the tape anda mounting clip at the other end for releasably mounting said horn onsaid double wall thickness.

6. A dispensing unit according to claim 5 wherein said clip comprises alongitudinal extension having a reverselyturned leg engaging said oneside edge at the corner at its opposite end.

7. A dispensing unit according to claim 1 for a roll of slot insulationtape having a uniform width formed about an open core, said roll havingan inner and outer diameter within said container, means in said sleevesdefining a common hole smaller than said inner diameter to accommodatemeans to support said container and roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1933 Miller 20652 6/1943 Rysass270-94 4/1943 Meeks 27086 X FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1965 Canada.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

PAUL V. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 20652; 229--23

